Method or process of separating liquids from solids.



H. A. HERFL- METHOD OR PROCESS OF SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

- APPLICATION FILED DEC.23. I915, 1,212,638. Patented Jan. 16,1917.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET l.

v Q Ch 7 IfiI Sk is a? w i' H. A. HERB. METHOD 0R PROCESS OF SEPASATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-23,,l9l5- 1,212,688, Patented Jan. 16,1917.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. A. HERR.

METHOD 0R PROCESS OF SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

Patented Jan.16,1917.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-23, I915- my dxwwm H. A. HERB.

METHOD 0R PROCESS OF SEPARAI'ING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-Z3. I915.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-23, 1915.

Patented Jan. 16

I 0 SHEETSSHEET 6- 7407M" mouimlzw -H.A.HERR. METHOD 0R PROCESS OF SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-23, I915- 1,212,638. Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET I.

YVERTOK villi/Il mm A. HERB.

METHOD 0R PROCESS OF SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.23, I915- Patented Jan. 16,1917.

)0 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

1.95 7 lfiTuul n n u (o WrEness s: L

H. A. HERR. METHOD OR PROCESS OF SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

1o SHEETS-SHEET 9.

. APPLICATION FILED DEC-23, 1915. 1,212,638.

Patented Jan.

w nu ESSES:

H. A. HERR. METHOD 0R PROCESS OF SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-23, I915.

' Patented Jan. 16,1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET l0.

(OIFicS-ses: AWE/Wa UNITE METHOD OR PROCESS OF SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM. SOLIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917 Original application filed September 21, 1908, Serial No. 456,063. Divided and this application filed December 23, 1915. Serial No. 68,333.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOMER A. HERB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods or Processes of Separating Liquids from Solids, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division from my application No. 456,063, filed September 21st, 1908 and consists of a method or process of separating liquids from solids.

My invention has reference to a process or method of separating and cleaning liquids from solids, such as sugar from syrup, bauxite clay from caustic soda, magnesia from water, or any substance where solids are to be separated from their associated li uids. I

In carrying out my invention I used the force acquired by rotation to discharge the solids, as well as the liquids from a rotating vessel. I employ a high speed for forcing the solids and a slow speed for passing the' liquidsfromtheir containing vessel. I retain' my unseparated mass in the vessel for a predetermined time, during which time the liquid is passing from the solids at a high speed. I then reduce the speed and discharge the solids by the force induced by the speed, I do this in a continuously intermittent manner. That is, I intermittently put material into the vessel, intermittently rotate the vessel at high speed, intermittently arrest the speed,intermittently. ro-

tate the vessel at slow speed, and intermittently pass the solids from the vessel at slow speed. 4

In carrying out my invention in practice I may, in some materials, find it desirable, after putting material in my vessel and rotating it at high speed, separating the liquid by the force acquired by the speed and arresting the speed of the vessel entirely, and then rotating the vessel at slow speed and use the force acquired by the slow speed to clean-the separated solids.

My method also. contemplates, in material that requires it, the washing and cleaning of the separated solids and the separating of the water from the solids washed, such as sugar: inwhich is contemplated the s-e 1 'aa-.

rating of the unseparated mass by rotating the same in a Vessel at high speed, after separating washing the same at high speed,

such a manner that they will not drop unaided. It is not possible to clear the vessel of solids of this impacted material in any practical mannerto meet commercial or industrial needs or requirements at high separating speed, as the enormous power inherent in the mass at high speed renders the mass practically uncontrollable at this time for purposes of discharging the same; but when I reduce the speed of the vessel and the mass to such a degree that the laws of centrifugal force and momentum will coact with the laws of gravity, then I can control the solids and clear the vessel by. a co-action of'the laws of centrifugal. force,

momentum and gravity and the materialpasses from the vessel in a reliable, efficient and controllable manner.

To make the effectiveness of my method somewhat more clear we will assume that I have a centrifugal basket 4 in diameter and 26 deep-a standard constructionand We will further assume that this basket is rotating at 1600 R. P. M. Now a basket of this type at this speed will develop a centrifugalintensity at a ratio of 1 to 1525.66, in other words each pound of material entering the basket will immediately have its gravity accelerated to practically weigh 1525.66 pounds. Now at the period of unloading,lafter separating amass of unseparated material, there usually remains in the basket hanging on the shell wall about 450 pounds of separated solids, which solids have agravity intensity at a basket speed of 1600 R. P. M. of 686,700 pounds or 343 tons. A static cleaner brought in contact with this enormous force will be wrecked and destroyed and any of the wall adheringmaterial engaged by it, prior to destruction, will fly in every-direction and be absolutely unloading a granular substance or material,

such as sugar or salt, is 80 R. P. M. and when I reduce the speed of the basket to 80 R. P. M. I reduce the centrifugal force of the mass to a ratio of 1 to 4.75 pounds, which means that every pound of material that is separated and hanging on the wall of the vessel will have a potential weight of 4.75 pounds and the 450 pounds I attempted to unload or get out of the vessel at 1600 R. P. M. instead of ofl'ering a resistance of 686,700 pounds will have this resistance reduced to 1950 pounds and at this resistance, so enormously reduced, centrifugal force, momentum of mass and gravity will all coact to pass the material from the basket, through the port provided, in a reliable, controllable and highly eflicient manner to meet the most exacting industrial needs.

The slow unloading speed must be varied to suit the material and sometimes to meet different conditions of the same material. A granular substance such as sugar or salt will require a centrifugal intensity of about from 4 to 6 pounds. Bauxite clay, kaolin and similar substances will require a slow speed to produce a centrifugal intensity of from 20 to 25 pounds, both must be uniformly maintained during the unloading period. Usually each separate material has some physical characteristic which requireforce modified, or in modified degree extended to resist adhesion of the passing mass to its conducting surface.

It is obvious that any well known or old means for reducing or accelerating speeds and maintaining speeds so varied could be employed in carrying out my invention or method, when any type of centrifugal was employed aside from that shown in my special machine, as set out in this my specification. It is also evident that I do not limit my means for operating the basket at two speeds to a belt with a variable size to the pulleys, but I' desire it understood that any operating means that will give to a centrifugal basket a high separating speed and will permit of reducing the speed of the basket to a slow cleaning speed would be the full equivalent of my belt and pulleys.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a special machine of which the following is a description and specification, but I do not limit myself to the employment of this machine as any machine or means that would intermittently permit the feeding of unseparated material to a vessel, rotating the vessel at high speed, at which speed liquids are passed from their associated solids then permit or give to said vessel a slow speed, at which speed a scraper cleans the wall of the vessel of separated solids which are passed from the vessel by force acquired by rotation of the mass combined with and initially induced by the action of the scraper could carry out my invention equally with my special machine herein described.

My machine consists of a separating cylindrical vessel having the lateral walls, but not absolutely essentially, of novel perfora tions at their lower end (the shell carries a fine perforated brass or copper filtering sheet reinforced in accordance with the well known requirement for strength). This reinforcement consists of a heavy cylindrical sheet of steel with large perforations to permit the passage therethrough of the molasses liquids or syrups and this cylinder of steel is again externally reinforced by the usual steel rings. Between the exterior wall of the basket and the interior wall of the outer casing is the syrup collecting chamber into which the syrup passes after passing through the perforations herement and 'should be turned true and well.

balanced, and it should be positioned absolutely concentric with the center of the shaft when the machine is erected and in operation.

A further feature of my invention is the manner in which the bottom of the basket is dropped out of position and thus the purged residuum is free to pass out by reason thereof, and the basket thus cleared for another load. To this end I make my shaft reciprocate vertically. The bottom of the basket is fixed to this shaft and holds the cylindrical walls of the basket in a fixed horizontal plane. (I, however, desire it understood I could revise this kinetic relation and instead of moving the bottom, I might keep the bottom in a fixed-horizontal plane and give the walls of the basket a vertical reciprocation. The scope of my claims does not limit me in this regard and I desire it so understood.) The essential function accomplished is that "I use force acquired by rotation toclear the basket of the solids, ,130

MA I J\ controlling of the time for opening and the material is purged.

as well as the liquids, and I expose a discharge port in the basket wherethrough solids are passed after being scraped from the shell of the basket while rotating at a reduced speed, maintained with approximate uniformity. It is not essential to my method that this port should be of any particular form or have any specific location, so long as the separated solids are removed from the shell of the basket by scraping the basket wall by any character of static cleaner, while the basket is rotating and the separated material in this manner removed from the said shell, and thereafter is conducted to the exposed exit port While rotating, at the slow, sustained and regulated speed.

. he means I employ for dropping the. vertical shaft and the'bottom of the basket tion. The bottom of the basket carries radial projecting lugs, and the basket walls are slotted vertically at various points to receive and retain these lugs. The vertical limit of these slots is made to conform with the vertical reciprocation of the bottom of the basket and its supporting vertical shaft. Below the normal line of the bottom I have enlarged holes or slots in the cylindrical Walls of the basket through which the residuum remaining in the basket after the purging, is discharged into a receptacle below the machine. The discharging holes need be of no particular. shape or in any specific position .or location and there can be one or more of such holes or passageways. So long as it or they will serve as a discharge port from the inner to the outer side of the basket or vessel, are closed at high or separating speed, preferably, and can be opened or made available to permit of solids passing at the slow speed, they would come within the scope of my invention.

A third feature of my invention is to provide a time controller for pre-determining the time that material shall remain in the basket subject to centrifugal action. This time varies with the nature of the material, but can be made to suit any requirement. The specific description I will give later in this specification.

A fourth feature of my invention is to provide an automatic gate for the admission of syrup to the basket to be operated immediately following the return of the basket bottom to its normal position and the closing this gate.

A fifth feature of my invention is the means I employ to clean ,the basket after This consists broadly of a plow or scra'per, stationary, as

.to any except vertical movement and a slight slow oscillation, which, as the bottom de-' scendswith the prime vertical shaft which supports it, it also descends and, after it has reached its lower position, it is slowly swung in the path of the residuum'and gradually removes the saidv residuum mass which in very small vertical sections as the rota ting mass comes in contact herewith while the plow is,oscillated slowly to the zone of the residuum. This knife, however, cannot come in contact with the wall of the basket as its radius is" shorter than the radius of the inner wall of the basket, but I propose a wood scraper, having an extended radius and carried by the plow which slightly scrapes the wall and thoroughly cleans it. This plow, aside from the knives and wood scrapers, carries a series of angular, downwardly inclined wings, one for each knife, and as each knife removes its section of residuum from the lateral wall of the basket its co-acting wing takes it and forces it down violently to the bottom of the basket where centrifugal action will expel it from the basket zone as set out. I also provide means for returning this plow to its normal position after each action.

A sixth feature of my invention is to provide a means to inject a spray of water into the basket as the sugar syrup (when the centrifugal is used in sugar) is nearing its completion of a purge. It is well known in the manufacture of sugar that the injection of a water spray will brighten the color and beautify the appearance of the sugar. ,This spraying is done immediately following the separating of the syrups and the sugar and before the speed of the basket is reduced in order that the centrifugal intensity will carry the Washing water through the crvstals at high speed.

A seventh feature of my invention is the centrifugal seal which I employ to prevent leakage, carried by the bottom of the cham-, ber, at its perimeter and when extended by centrifugal action sealing the space between the said bottom and the inner wall of the basket.

An eighth feature of my invention consists of means for changingthe air current induced by centrifugal action.

A further feature of my invention is tojreduce the speed of the basket While the residuum is being removed therefrom and to have the basket entirely supported by the vertical shaft when purging and at a high &

speed but by the balls supported in the ball race of the exterior casing and at slow speed while cleaning.

Other features of my invention will be referred to hereinafter.

In the drawings like parts are referred to by marks or figures of a corresponding kind in the different views.

Figure l is a general plan of the machine looking down on the top. Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine showing prime shaft and the parts it actuates. Part of the indicator disk is removed to show the clutch moving mechanism in its relation to the other elements. Fig. 3 is also a front view reduced in size and showing the full indicator disk, also showing the basket, one half in vertical section and one half in side section. Fig. 4 is a one half vertical section through the basket and its actuating shaft supporting parts and a one half end elevation of these same parts. Fig. 5 is a plan of the mechanism for raising and lowering the basket cleaner and the main vertical basket supporting shaft of the machine and the manner of supporting the latter shaft. The molasses gate and water jet mechanism are also shown in this view. The main supporting frame is removed but the supporting lugs 50 50 for the basket supporting pin 126 and which lugs are integral with the main supporting frame aforesaid on the underside thereof, are shown in horizontal section through the plane of the center of the pin 12 6. Fig. 6 is a section on line 1, Fig. 5, showing friction roller and ball bearings and channel therefor. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the prime shaft and an end view of the eccentric which primarily controls the movement of the clutch moving arm, also, an end view of this arm. This view also shows the carrier for the double dogs, one of which forces the clutch in and the other out, as will be explained. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the indicator finger carrying shaft and some of its connections. Fig. 8 is the oscillating lever which is moved by the finger armand carries integrally the lug or nose for engagement by the dog which throws the prime clutch into operative position. is also shown in this,view. Fig. 9 is the clutch shifting arm with the pivoted interpo'nent 62 which it carries for disengaging the clutch after the vertical shaft has been raised and the bottom of the basket. Fig. 10 is a side view of the indicator disk, finger and clutch jaw. Fig. 11 shows the indicating finger and its integral arms, the clutch shifting arm and the oscillating lever shown in Fig. 8, all in their correct relative position, just at the time the finger commences to oscillate the said oscillating lever. Fig. 12 is the finger for indicating time for purging. Fig. 13 is a plan of the mechanism for The supporting collar for this lever.

operating the indicator finger and for moving the clutches. Fig. 14 is part end view and partsection of Fig. l3. This view also clearly shows the cam for tripping the bell crank'lever actuating bar 15 out of normal to be ready for the next operation. Fig. 15 is a section (inside View) of the basket. Fig. 16 is the bottom of the basket. Fig. 17 is one of the centrifugal segments, carried by the said bottom. Fig. 18 shows the cleaner in position after knife has had its full movement and scraper just starting in action. It is a section on line C, Fig. 20. Fig. 19 is a section on line C C Fig. 22, and shows the action of the sugar as it is thrown from the basket wall and as it is passed from the basket bottom by centrifugal force. Fig. 20 is an elevation of the scraper and its support. Fig. 21 an end view of the cutters. Fig. 22 shows the position of cleaner in relation to bottom. Fig. 23 shows one arm of the cam controlled bell crank lever for swinging the basket cleaner and another position of the bell crank tripping arm indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 24 is the device for changing the time of valve action for feeding the basket with material for purging and also for water jet action. Fig. 25 shows an adjustable lever whereby the throw of thetrip for levers 222 and 229 can be varied. Preferred construction. Fig. 26 is a part section on line aa of Fig. 27, part section on line b-b of Fig. 27 and plan for unlocking the clutch jaws 28-30, or timer clutch, enlarged with some additional de' tails over what is shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 27 is an end view of the same mechanism shown in Fig. 26. Fig. 28 is a side elevation of the inside and outside interponents removed from their supporting arm 54. 5 l ig. 29 is a plan of the same. "Fig. 30 is a section on line XX of Fig. 28.

' Detail description of ma.chine.-1 is the main support for the mechanism of the machine, aside from the basket and its immediate supports. This support can be bolted in practice to the tank which applies the molasses or juices it is intended to treat in the machine, or it can be supported on a frame designed for this purpose. It is a matter of prime importance, however, that this frame be held fixed and'unyielding in its relation to the basket and its support.

The basket should rotate from 1000 to 1700 revolutions per minute, depending on the diameter at high speed and 80 to 100 revolutions per minute at slow. The main support, or bed plate 1 carries bearing supports 4 and 5 and these bearing supports carry bearings 2 and 3, Sheets 1 and 2. In Fig. 1 these bearings are shown as cap bearings, in Fig. 2 as solid ones, but their specific character is immaterial. The bearings 2 and 3 carry a shaft 6 and thesaid shaft a fast and loose pulley for operating it shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but not numerically designated. 6 is the prime shaft of the machine. 7 is a worm carried on prime shaft 6, and 8 1s a worm wheel Wh1ch 1t actuates (in the direction of arrow 9). 10 is a shaft 122 is a cam carried on shaft 10, 127 is a friction roller shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This friction roller is carried by a lever 125, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, said lever being U shaped, as shown in Fig. 5 and straddling the shaft 141 by the two arms, forming the U. This lever 125 is pivoted into the main bed plate of the machine and held therein by pivot pin 126. Lugs 50 and 50, shown in horizontal section in Fig. 5 and vertical section and elevation in Fig.4 support this lever to these integral depending lugs as shown.

128 is a pivot pin holding the friction roller 127 to the lever 125 through arms thereof 131, shown in Fig. 5, 129, 129 are two links, best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, pivoted to either arm of the U shaped lever 125 and supported thereto by pin .130.

133 best shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 is a ball bearing carried and supported to lever 125 by links 129, 129 aforesaid.

137 is the direct shaft support; this shaft support rests on the'balls 136, in the ball race of 133, through the annular, depending shaft concentric-flange 135.

138 and 139 are two lock nuts permitting of adjustment between the shaft support 137 and the ball carrier 133.

142 is the basket bottom, having a locking nut therefor 143. The shaft 141 is tapered at 144, thus holding the bottom 142 very rigid.

146, 146, 146, 146 are a series of radial arms carried by the basket bottom. These radial arms pass into the holes of the basket perimeter, 156, see Fig. 15. This is the only view in which these slotted holes for the reception of these radial arms are shown, but the position of the arms 146, 146 when assembled is shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it is evident that when the shaft 141 drops down the arms 146 on the bottom of the basket 142 will be free to slide in the slots 156 of the perimeter of the basket. Now while the machine is at high speed the shaft support 137 is in contact with and rests on balls 136, through the annular flange 135 aforenamed and the ring 159, which supports the basket wall 149, with its annular rings 150, 150, and its shields 151, and 152, is raised off of friction balls 161. These latter balls, be it understood, are carried in the stationary an nular support therefor, 160, Figs. 3 and 4, the latter being held rigidly to the support 163 and 165 for the outer basket casing. All that is necessary in practice is to have the basket supporting annular ring 159 off the balls 161, whenthe basket is at high speed or raised from line 170 to line 171, Fig. 4. This relieves the basket from friction as the entire weight is on balls 136, which are few in number and whose ball race is relatively small in diameter. But the moment the cam 122 has moved to permit the shaft 141 to be lowered the basket perimetral ring 159 rests on the balls 161 and'this stops the downward movement of the basket perimeter. Now while this perimeter is being raised from line 170 to 171, or say 4', the radial arms 146, 146, 146, 146, engage on the upper edge of the slots 156 in the perimeter 149 of the basket, or on the lineindicated at (Z (Z, Fig. 15, but as the shaft 141 moves downward, through the action of the cam 122 and the intervening elements described, and this movement brings the basket ring support 159 in contact with rollers 161, then the said basket perimeter is arrested in its downward motion, and the lugs 146 become disengaged from the top of slot 156 and move down the slot to the limit of the movement of the shaft 141 and the bottom 142. The upper limit of movement of the basket bottom and the action of the material in the basket are shown in Fig. 4, where, it will be seen that basket bottom is up and the solids are held in the basket, while the bottom position of the basket bottom is indicated by dotted lines.

The lower limit ofmovement of t -e basket bottom and the action of the material while in this position is shown in Fig. 3, where, it will be seen, the material purged from its liquids is passing out through holes 157, 157 A 'see Fig. 15, by centrifugal action- Line A.

"indicate upperlimit, or purging position of basket bottom. I do not attempt to illustrate these holes 157, 157 for the discharge of the solids in any but Fig. 15 and would request that this figure be taken in connection with Figs. 3 and 4 and the space between lines (Z d and e 6, Fig. 15, is the horizontal position the bottom of the basket occupies while the material is being purged, and when the solids are being discharged the downward movement of the bottom, as described exposes the holes 157, 157, permitting them to pass therethrough and from the basket- In Fig. 15, section 6 represents 0 O perforated metal and section (1 No. 8 Wire ,mesh usual in centrifugal basket construcbelt and M is belt pulley. Now when the shaft 141 is raised the speed of the basket must be high as this is the purging position,

therefore, as it is O 0 raised the belt 174 is placed on the high part of the pulley 172 and the full rotation is given the shaft 141 that the pulley M is capable of transmitting when the shaft is lowered so that the belt is on pulley 173, it is so loose that it slips and the basket moves slowly. This is during cleaning the basket of solids after purging.

It is scarcely necessary to say that when the low part of cam 122 is resting on the friction roller 127, the lever 125 is in the position indicated by the dotted line passing through center of pin 130 Fig. 2 and bottom of basket is down, and when the high part of the cam 122 rests on friction roller 127 the basket bottom is up and basket supporting ring 159 is off rollers 161, and lever 125 occupies position of radial line 169. I desire it understood I do not limit myself to the belt actuating power; I could use many modified structures for varying the speed of the motor fro-m maximum during purging to minimum during cleaning, all within the range of my invention. 1 could use a motor with two speeds, one with full control for one speed and armature control for another speed, and regulating device to change the control from field to armature and vice versa at a predetermined time in the cycle of the machine.

Gleaming the basket of solida-Thisconsists broadly of a frame carrying a series of cutters and deflectors; The entire structure passes down into the basket only after purging, and when down to its limit it is oscillated toward the basket wall in a direction opposite to the rotation of the basket wall or perimeter. The deflector gradually engages with the solids onthe wall and removes them and finally a wood broom or sweep, so to speak, sweeps the inner wall of the basket, after which the sweeping mechanism is automatically removed from the basket.

176 is a vertical shaft, 177, 177 are two vertical guide rods for said shaft, parallel therewith, equally distant therefrom and fixed at their two extremities. At theirup- .per extremity they are threaded into or otherwise fixed to bed plate 1 and at their lower extremity riveted or otherwise held by plate 178 or basket cover 160, shown only in Sheet 3 Fig. 3.

179 and 180 are two collars fixed toshaft 176, 181 is a collar guided on rods 177, 177.

182 is a pin holding link 184 to memher 181.

It will be understood that the shaft 176 is free to oscillate in collar 181, and it is also free to move vertically in said collar. This shaft 176 extends in practice above the gear 193 a suflicient distance to accommodate the downward movement thereof. That is if the downward movement of the shaft 176 is 14" the shaft when it is up must extend 14 above the gear 193, so that by no possibility can the said shaft become disengaged from the said gear. The spline 192 in the shaft must be as long as its vertical movement and the gear 193 must carry the key so as to permit the shaft to move free in its vertical travel. The collars, therefore, 179, and 180 being fixed to the shaft 176 become the thrust receiving members for the vertical movement of the said shaft, and the fact that the collar 181 is guided by the fixed rods 177 prevents it from turning and the link pins 182 are thus held in fixed alinement.

185 is a lever, as shown in Fig. 5; it straddles the rod 176, also the two guide rods 177, 177 and carries two links 184, 184. These links connect the lever 185 with rod lifting collar 181 and whereby the vertical movement of the rod 176 is controlled.

186 is a pivot pin connecting link 187 to lever 1.85. The lever 185189 is pivoted to the shaft 10 which carries the cam 122 aforesaid, therefore, as the vertical basket bottom supporting shaft 144 moves down the lever 185 and shaft 176 move down and vice versa, as the former moves up, the latter moves up. This arrangement makes it practically impossible for the basket bottom and the basket cleaner to move out of unison, a very important matter. The dotted line 190 in Fig. 2 shows the upper position of the lever 185 and the dotted line 191 the lower position.

After the rod 17 6 and its supported parts are down to the limit of their movement the basket wall is cleaned as follows: The shaft 176 at its upper extremity carries a long keyway 192 a key in the key-way and a slotted gear 193, Figs. 1,2 and 4. This gear is fixed against vertical movement by a holding pin 194 engaging in a circumferential groove 195, Fig. 4 only. Now as the arm 185 of the lever 185189, is controlled by the lever 125 through link 187, it follows that as the cam 122 raises the lever 125 from the position shown in the solid drawings, Fig. 2, to the dotted line 169, the shaft 176 will slide up the key moving in the said keyway 192 and when these parts move down it will slide down.

In Figs. 1 and 5 I show a cam 123. This cam is not shown on any other views. It is a box cam and carries the roller which operates the bell crank, lever 196. I do not ShOW the roller race of this cam as it is not deemed essential. Sufficient to note that the following is its function: As the rod 176 descends the gear 193 is stationary but immediately the said rod reaches its limit of downward movement the bell crank lever 196 is moved through the link 198, which connects it with rack 199; the said bar carries rod 200, which meshes with gear 193 (201 is a guide for the rack bar). The cam 123 is so timed that when the basket is rotating it holds the chamber cleaners, shown in Figs. 18 to 22 inclusive, in the position shown in Fig. 5, Sheet 5, and indicated by 5th and it holds the cleaner in this position until the bottom of the basket is lowered to the limit, as shown'in Fig. 8, then the said cleaner carried rigidly on the rod 176, is slowly oscillated, first into position marked 1st., Fig. 5, in which position it has its initial contact with the sugar hang- I ing on the wall of the rapidly rotating basket. After position 4 is reached the knives 213 on the edge of the cleaner frame will have passed the extreme radius limit of the basket and will have removed all the sugar, save a very thin portion which will still hang in the basket wall. The scraper 204 will then finish the cleaning of the wall by contact therewith. This scraper is made of wood and swings in such a manner on its individual pivot that the wood cleaner 204 when extended radially with the cutters, will increase the net radius and thus insure proper cleaning of the basket wall.

The specific cleaner described could best be used in my method when the specific ma chine herein set out is in use, but as I do not limit the employment of my method to my machine, as here described, so I do not limit or restrict my method of scraping the wall of the basket or vessel to my specific cleaner or scraper. Any scraper that can be brought in contact with the rotating wall or shell of the basket or vessel at reduced speed of the basket, and remove the solids impacted thereon at this reduced speed, by having the basket laden wall rotating toward the contact point of such cleaner or scraper, would meet the requirements of my invention and come within its scope. I place no limit, therefore, as to the kind, form or character of scraper or cleaner that need be employed, nor the manner of holding it in shell contact during the scraping function, if my specific machine should not be employed in carrying out my method.

Construction of cZeamer.-206 is a central stem having integral wings 207, 207, 207, 207- and a cutter integral wing connection .208. These parts are all in one solid casting. The shaft 176 passes through the central-stem 206 and holds the cleaner firm and rigid therewith. A pin 209, Fig. 22 only.

The wings 207 207, etc., are inclined to anangle of 45 on their support. Now the ar row in Fig. 5 shows the direction in which the basket travels. This corresponds to the arrows 210 of Fig. 19, 211 of Fig. 18 and the arrow 214 Fig. 19 shows the direction of the sugar when brought under centrifugal action in its passing from the basket t after being deflected as shown in Fig. 22.

The arrow 212, Fig. 22, indicates the lines of force in which the sugar contacts with the deflectors from which line it is deflected 45 degrees to the bottom 142 of the basket, and is there forced through holes 157, 157, hereinbefore referred to, and as illustrated in Fig. 15.

217, Fig. 18 shows the support for the wood scraper 204, a spring 215 holds these parts in yielding position.

216 is a pivotal support for the yielding scraper holding it to the outer part 208 of the deflector frame.

Now after the walls of, the basket are cleaned as described the rod 17 6 is oscillated back to the position marked' after which the cam 122 raises both it and'the bottom of the basket by the mechanism described and the machine is ready for another load of syrup.

Feeding the centrifugal with sugar.-The manner in which I feed the machine with syrup is as follows: When I employ my method with my specific machine, or when I employ any other type of machine in carrying out my method, I would provide the usual feed pipe, the usual valve or gate and open the gate in the usual manner well known to the art. The manner of feeding material to the basket or vessel is not material and I place no restrictions as to how this can be or should be done; just so the vessel or basket is charged or loaded with a fill-mass, the basket or vessel rotated to a high speed separating the liquid from its associated solids at this speed, whereafter the solids are left impacted on the inner shell wall of the basket or vessel and then I reduce the speed of the basket to the proper slow speed, scrape the wall of the basket shell at the reduced speed, permit the material to pass through the port in the basket in whatever position it may be located and pass the separated solids over the basket bottom, or otherwise, out of the said port.

The cycle or sequence of functions of my method are successive and intermittent. The high speed period must be concluded before the reduced speed can be used, as the separation must be accomplished before the solids are in conditionto discharge from the. vessel. There may be times or conditions, however, when the high speed may, or in-' deed should be, interrupted before effective separation is made; as there may be times after the high speed has accomplished a satisfactory separation when the slow speed is or would be interrupted, or timeswhen a full arrest of rotation between the completion of the high speed period and the initial As already described 122 is the cam which raises and lowers the bottom of the basket,

' as soon, therefore, as the basket bottom is raised and the cleaner out of the basket, the cam 122 is on its high point. This point amounts to about 70 degrees of the cams circumference. When the friction roller 127 which directly controls the movement of the cleaner carrying rod 176 and basket bottom shaft 141, through the levers and links already described, has raised these two rods to their top limit, or initial positions, the pin 228, Fig. 24, on the disk 124, Figs. 1, 5 and 24, occupies the position shown in Fig. 24, as contacting with the bell crank 229. Now whi e the cam 122 slowly rotates 40 or from radial line I to radial line H, the said lever 229231 will pull the rod 232 toward shaft 10and the valve 235 will move from valve position 236 to position marked 235 and the syrup will flow, charging the centrifugal basket through the feed trough shown in Fig. 3. The movement of this valve is indicated in Fig. 3 as being from 'dotted line a to dotted line a.

The shaft 10, which carries the pin holding disk 124 rotates slowly and whenthe radial line 237 is reached in the oscillation of the bell crank 229231, the feed gate 235 has admitted sufficient syrup in the basket for a purge and by a weight or spring (not shown) is immediately closed as the pin 228 passes from lever 229. The friction roller has rolled from H to I in this valve action and syrup feeding just described and the cam 122 has moved from 1 to H. Now while the cam travels from I to J the slack is taken up in the dog 14 Figs. 1, 13 and 14 and the bell crank 17108 wilt have been oscillated, putting the pin 30' in one of the holes of the clutch disk, 28, Fig. 2.

The shaft 10 is the secondary shaft and it will be noted, controls the vertical. movements of the basket shaft, the syrup 'feed valve 235 and the water spray rod 221 and, inasmuch as all these functions are related in the time of their performance with the timing mechanism it also controls this latter mechanism in the following manner: The spur 11 on shaft lo operates spur 12 on shaft 23, and the cam travels from I to J, as described, and about the time it reaches J, the dog holder 13 on shaft 23 will have taken the position indicated by the dog 14 in dotted line, Fig. 14, and as the bar 15 at this time is down, or at line M the said dog will engage the said bar and move it forward. 16 is a bell crank lever engaged by a lateral slot in bar 15 at head of said lever 19. 63 is a link pivot-rod pivoted to the longer arm of said bell crank lever, 45 is a pivoted clutch tripping lever, carried pivotally by pin 48 to collar 49 on rod 40. 17 is the short arm of a bell crank and 108 is the long arm thereof. It is pivoted at 18 to sliding link or bar 15.

Now as the dog 14, after contacting with the end of bar or link 15. as described is further moved the bell crank 16 will be oscillated, and the rod 63 thereon will push the pivoted clutch trip 45 from disengagement with the hole 53 of the clutch moving arm. It is evident that this will have been accomplished by the dog 1 on the dog holder 13, on the shaft 23 moving the said link or bar 15 in the normal direction of its motion, as shown by the arrow 33, (said arrow indicating the direction of rotation for shaft 23) Fig. 14. As the clutch trip 45 passes from the hole 53 as just described, see Figs. 12, 2, 7, 8 and 11, the spring 91, which is fixed to the said lever 45 at one end and to the frame 1 of the machine at the other end, will pull the said clutch lever 45 down against the oscillating arm 59 of its pivoted rod support 58,, Figs. 2 and 9 best shown. 62 is an integral arm or lug on pivoted rod 58. Like 59 it is rigidly held on said rod 58, the said rod being a pivotal support for both 59 and 62 59 being on the outer side of the clutch moving member 54 and in the path of the downward swinging clutch lever 45, and 62 on the inner side of the same and in the path of the dog 80. Now as the lever 45 is pulled down by said spring it will engage the top of the arm 59 and oscillate it until it reaches the position predetermined by stop pin 94, Fig. 11, and as 62 is on the same pivoted pin 58, the latter will also be oscillated and this oscillation will carry it from the inner to the outer dotted line 121,

Fig. 9, and in this latter position it will be engaged by the vertically reciprocating dog 80 pivoted to 78. During this movement the arm 57, which is the clutch moving arm, and integral with 54 will be oscillated from dotted line 75 to dotted line 74 in Fig. 10, which is the same as line 123 to line 124, Fig. 9 and the clutch jaw 97 will be thus disengaged from clutch jaw- 98 and the worm 7 which is carried on the sleeve integral with the clutch jaw 98 will be arrested and therefore the worm wheel 8 and shaft 10 will also be arrested. The friction roller 127 will stop with the cam 122 at line J, in Fig. 24. It is scarcely necessary to remark that the cam 122 in Fig. 24 is in the-position it so occupies in this figure when the basket bottom is up and in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 when the bottom is down. I

It willbe seen from the foregoing that as the bar 15 moves forward by the dog 14, as set out, and as the bell crank 16 is oscillated on the pivot 20, the bell crank 108-17 is also oscillated on its pivot 21, and as the arm 108 of the said latter bell crank is oscillated to the radial line 27 the clutch disk 28 is moved toward the pin 30 and one of the several holes in said disk engages said pin, locking thus wheel 29 to disk 28. Thus when clutch jaws 97 and 98 are being disengaged, as just described, jaws 30 and 28 are being engaged. Now while clutches 97 and 98 and 30 and 28 are disengaging and engaging respectively, as described, the shaft 10 rotates 12 degrees, as well as its rigid parts, or from I to J in diagram Fig. 24. Shaft 10 is now at rest because clutch jaws 97 and 98 are disengaged and while this shaft is at rest the shaft 141 is, of course up, and belt 174 is on high part of belt wheel 172, Fig. 3. The purging is, therefore, done while shaft 10 is resting and while the timing finger 41 is traveling rotatively its predetermined limit, at the expiration of which time clutch jaws 97 and 98 are again engaged and the clutches consisting of disks 28 and 30 are disengaged, and the basket bottom and basket cleaner are again ready to go down for which function the cam 122 starts rotating at the radial line J. lVhile this cam travels from J to K or 15 the basket is stationary and while it thusitravels the already purged sugars receive a'ispray of clear water which clarifies and her; utifies the sugar.

The timing mechanism.The spraying of the sugar will be hereinafter described, and, our basket is now loaded with purged sugars, I will describe the adjustable timing c evice to predetermine the time the sugar sha 1 remain in the basket with the bottom upZ and sealed.

In Figs. 2 and 3, 11 is a spur gear carried on shaft 10, 12, is a spur gear supported on shaft 23, the said shaft 23 being supported on the main bed plate of the machine in any practical way such as bearings shown horizontal section Fig. 13. The spur is rigid with the shaft 23. As already mentioned this shaft 23 carries a dog holder 13, this dog holder a dog 14, the said dog being normally held against a pin 32 by a spring 30, Fig. 14 only, 40 is a shaft carrying an indicator finger 41',;and' being held thereto by an adjusting screw 67. -This permits of the finger being adjustable to any degree of the circular disk with the facenumera'l'sjas shown in Figs.' 3, 10' and 11. 38'i'fls spur gear also fiXed to sh'aft40, 37 'aninterrne diate spur gear and "36 a pinion gear carried" onshaft 24. This pinion 'i's hel d by"i 'kyfixed to gear so as to rotate with'sh'a'ft: 29

is a worm wheel of small pitch of teeth, say 180 teeth. The worm wheel 29 carries a spring pin 30, already referred to, said spring pin radially coinciding with a series of holes in the disk 28, see Figs. 2 and 3. This disk 28 and the spring pin 30' form a clutch each of which becomes in effect one of the. two jaws, or interlocking members thereof, 26, Fig. 13 is an annular clutch groove. This groove is connected by an intervening sleeve with the hole carrying disk 28. A pin, 27, preferably two pins in arm 108 of the bell crank 10817 is held in the annular groove 26. 112 is a chain drum fixed on shaft 24 and 110 is a. chain on said drum, 109 a weight on said chain, Fig. 2 only. The worm wheel 29 is free on the shaft 24 and the shaft can rotate independently of the worm and likewise the worm wheel independently of the shaft. The clutch jaw 28, however, is held to the said shaft 24 by a key 34, Fig. 13, therefore, the said clutch jaw rotates with the shaft 24. The key 34 permits of a longitudinal movement of the clutch jaw 28 and its integral groove 26, however, it will thus be seen that the shaft 24 is under the influence of the weight 109, on cord 110, when the jaws 30' and 28'are disengaged; and as the spur gears 36, 37 and 38, shaft 40 and finger 41 are all, at all times, operatively connected, the weight will, at any time the clutch jaws 30 and 28 are separated, pull the shaft 24 to itsnormal position, which position contemplates the said weight resting on its support 111, Fig. 2 only. The parts are so; 'adjusted that when the weight is on its support 111, the finger 41 is at zero, as shown in Figs. 3, 10 and 11.

We will now assume that I am treating a syrup that requires five minutes to purge; I place the finger 41 at the radial line 87, Fig. 11 which position indicates that it will take five minutes for the said finger to travel from radial line 87 to O on the diagram after which the basket bottom will be sent down. l/Vhen I set the finger 41 Ifirst free the screw 67 and turn the finger on'its shaft 40. Now this predetermines the point at which the finger will always be automatically returned after a purge and when res seated for a subsequent purge time period predeterinination. The. reseating of the finger is accomplishedqby theweight 109, Fig. 2. As'this weight is raisedfby the rotation it "has its predetermine ,movement and when the mechanism a is unlocked by the unlocking, of. the clutch jaw's 36 and game -of the shaft .24, the finger 41 rotates .uiitil weightlQtl'dropsto its nor'mal positioniof' rest"on lits j cushioned support 111, and

through gears 37, 38,39 and shaft 40, finger isa ai'n put inlin'e 8 7, orfiveminutes from 0 in a normal action ofthe machinet This finger can'be set for any time 'periodpurging. Numeral 1 indicates a one minute purge; 2 a two minute purge, and so on. I am not limited to any time predeterminaare tion.v I could even change the gear combinations to shorten or extend the time on a single indicator dial, as practical requirements may suggest.

It will be remembered that clutch jaws 97 and 98 are always disengaged when'jaws and 28 are engaged and vice versa; jaws 97 and 98 are always engaged when 30 and 28 are disengaged, and while the machine is working one or the other of these clutches is engaged. It will also be remembered and understood that whatever jaws 97 and 98 are engaged and shaft 10 is in action purging never takes place, and it will be further remembered that when the jaws 30 and 28 are engaged purging always is taking place as this is the time predetermining clutch for purging and for purging alone.

I have now described how I unlock jaws 97 and 98 after basket bottom is raised and how simultaneously with unlocking these V basket moving clutches at the conclusion of v 49, as previously mentioned, the arms 51 loading the basket, I lock the timing mechanism clutch 30 and 28. I have also determined how the time finger 41 is connected with the shaft 24 and how it automatically reseats itself after its predetermined motion of rotation is finished in each cycle of its movement. I have yet to describe how this time finger controls the mechanism to stop itself and start the basket bottom down by changing the clutches. That is unlocking jaws 30 and 28, which operate the time finger 41 and locking jaws 97 and 98 which operate the basket bottom vertically and the other described elements. In describing this mechanism, inasmuch as the same is used for the unlocking of clutch jaws 97 and 98, I will be excused from repeating some elemental relations. N

The finger 41 carries an arm 42 (this arm 42, which shown as integral with the finger, I could use it, and indeed prefer to use it separated from the finger, in which case a lug on the finger would engage the arm. at a given point of rotation and thus carry the arm with it). They are supported on the shaft 40 beingadjustably held thereto by a screw 67, F igs. 7 and 13. This arm and finger are shown in detail in Fig. 12.

45, shown in detail in Fig. 8 also shown in Figs. 7, 11, 1,.and 13, is a clutch tripping element for lever. It carries an inward protecting lug 47 and an outward protecting lug 46. It is held by pivots 48 to a collar and 52 of the said lever forming the pivotal supports for thepins 48, 48 which hold it to the said collar. The said collar 49 is loose on the shaft 40,'the shaft can therefore rotate while the collar and the lever 45 are stationary.

59, Figs. 13, 7 and 2, is a small arm. This arm is fixed to a shaft 58 and the said shaft is journaled into hole 3-8, Fig. 11, of the bell crank arm 54-57. The arm is on the outer side of the bell crankclutch shifting element 5457 and when the arm 57 is in the position indicated by the radialline 123, Fig. 9 the arm 59 is in the path of the vertically positioned dotted lines 122. The dog 81, Figs. 6 7, 13, etc., moves in the path indicated by these same dotted lines. 62 is also an arm fixed to the shaft 58 and on the inner side of the bell crank 5754, 61 is a stop pin carried by the latter arm and limiting its movement in the direction of the spring. It does this by resting against the radial wall of the hole in the bell crank 5754. 60 is a spring and 63 a pin holding the spring. The energy in this spring holds the arms 57 and 62 normally with the pin 61 resting on the wall of the slot aforesaid. These two arms 59 and 62 are best shown in Fig. 9 and this figure must be taken in connection with Figs. 13, 7, 2, 1, etc.,as is evident.

79 is a vertically reciprocating rod in continual action, the eccentric disk 55, Fig. 6 being fixed to the shaft 6 and the said shaft being in continual rotation while the machine is working. 68 is an eccentric strap carrying a link 71. This link is fixed at 76 to the eccentric strap aforesaid and is held by a pivot 77 to the dog holder 78.

7 9' is a rod carried in guide M in or on the standard 1, Fig. 6 the said guide being a hole in the frame 1.

81'is a dog on the outer side of the dog holder.

86 is a pin in the dog holder arresting the movement of the dog 81 and 83 is a pivotal supporting pin therefor. As the dog holder 78 moves down the dog 81 will have no effect on the lug 47, if in its path, as shown in Fig. 6 As it moves up, however, it will pull the lug 47 with it, when it is free to engage therewith. I

80 is an inner dog carried by the dog carrier 7 8. It is also supported on the pin 83, see Fig. 7.

85 is a stop pin carried by the dog holder 78 for the dog 80. It will be noted that dog 80 is free to act in a direction contrary to dog 81, or on the downward movement of the dog holder 78 and its operating connection, 24. 

